Buffet Restoration (31 Photos): How To Restore An Old Sideboard With Your Own Hands At Home? Step-by-step Instruction. Before And After Photos

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:15

A sideboard is an antique cabinet used in a kitchen or living room to store dishes, groceries, and other household items. It was made of natural wood, without the use of sawdust pressing technology. Parts production and assembly were carried out in manual or semi-manual mode, with minimized use of power tools and machine tools.

The sideboards were used not only as storage. They also served as interior decoration, for which they were equipped with stylized carvings and decorative elements.

In the space of modern design solutions, sideboards are used as rarity items . To do this, they are subjected to a wide range of restoration manipulations. You can restore the old Soviet sideboard yourself.

Tools and materials

For self-restoration of an old sideboard, you will need to prepare a minimum list of tools and consumables.

Mandatory tools:

• Sander;
• chisels;
• knife with replaceable blades;
• drill;
• putty knife.

Related tools:

• a hammer;
• nail puller;
• pliers;
• nippers;
• hacksaw.

Expendable materials:

• masking tape;
• self-tapping screws;
• wood putty;
• paint and varnish liquids;
• primer;
• wooden blanks;
• adhesives;
• nails;
• paint brushes;
• sandpaper of various grain sizes.

Means of protection:

• gloves;
• respirator;
• protective glasses;
• chemical resistant clothing.

Step-by-step instruction

To restore an old sideboard with your own hands, at the initial stage it is necessary to dismantle as many of its parts as possible. This will allow the restoration work to be carried out in the most efficient way . This is especially true of the carved segment of the structure, the processing of which can be the most difficult.

To carry out dismantling manipulations, you can use the appropriate tools: hammer, nail puller, chisel and others. At a professional level, these works are carried out using a specialized tool that allows you to remove fasteners - for example, nails or metal staples, without damaging the surface of the wood and without violating the entire structural integrity of the product.

At this stage, special care should be taken with parts that are detachable from each other. This will help to avoid the need to carry out an additional list of restoration work. It is important to pay attention to the integrity of the spike joints of the elements, since the quality of the subsequent reassembly of the buffet will depend on them.

After the maximum dismantling, it is necessary to grind the surfaces as much as the shape of each workpiece will allow. This is necessary to remove particles from the surface of the upper layer of wood that have eaten into it over the years of operation. Such substances include fats, mold spores and other contaminants contained in wet room vapors. Due to the presence of these substances, the surface of the sideboard can be darkened, sticky, rough.

For grinding the parts, a specialized grinding machine is used that operates at low speeds and is equipped with a shock-absorbing mechanism that prevents the appearance of stripes on the surface of the wood.

Initially, the grain size of the sandpaper should not be coarse, but as you work, its size should gradually decrease. For primary coarse processing, you can use a grain size of 60, then 120 and higher. This approach will help you achieve the best cleaning performance without damaging the surface. Also, it will not allow you to change the appearance of the product as a whole.

After thorough sanding, remove all dust and prime the surface. If there are chips, cracks or scratches, they must be repaired with wood putty . This putty can be chosen to match the color of the paintwork, which will be applied to the product in the future. A common problem in this case can be the color difference between the filled spots and the total surface area. In this case, it is recommended to take small sawdust, paint them in the desired color and mix with putty. This will help reduce the difference in color combination.

Painting

Painting is carried out in accordance with the instructions indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging with the paint and varnish material. The basic rules for staining say that it should be carried out in a well-ventilated area using all personal protective equipment.

To achieve the best uniformity during application, it is recommended to use a spray tool such as an electric spray gun or a compressor. In their absence, you can use a foam sponge, since its structure allows you to apply a streak-free coating. It is recommended to use paint brushes only as a last resort: they leave streaks and lose pile, which can remain on the surface and spoil the appearance of the product.

Decoupage

This is a special decoration technique that can be applied during restoration work. Its essence lies in attaching a drawing stylistically similar to the design of the sideboard to its surface. Pictures on canvas or paper can be used as a basis.

Painting

Carrying out restoration at home, you can paint the surfaces of the sideboard with additional paints … In this case, they should be in harmony with the color of the main texture of the sideboard cover. The use of colors that do not belong to the same group will impair the visual perception of the cabinet.

Varnishing

The application of varnish is necessary to prevent moisture from affecting the product. It can be used to give the sideboard a glossy sheen or matte finish. Varnish is used in cases where painting is not applied. The coating with this substance is well combined with the natural wood color of the product.

Antique finish

Since the sideboards are old-fashioned in themselves, you can use various tinting agents and a combination of varnishes to enhance the antiquity effect. The protruding parts of the product and carved ornaments located on it are covered with a stain or several layers of the same varnish , which makes them an order of magnitude darker than depressions and flat surfaces. This effect creates the illusion of antiquity.

Design ideas

When restoring the buffet, it is possible to change the direction of the style of its design. If earlier the sideboard was used for its intended purpose in the kitchen, then after repair it can even be placed in the children's room . To do this, the furniture must be painted in the appropriate colors: warm and bright. In addition, you can apply painting in children's style to its surface.

There are also ways to give the sideboard a modern look . Having painted furniture in one solid color of a non-standard shade (for example, turquoise, gray or white), you can restore it in the Provence style. This will allow you to combine the sideboard with similarly decorated rooms.

Care advice

To keep the buffet in proper shape, you must follow the list of basic rules for caring for the product. The cabinet should be installed where it will not be exposed to moisture, open fire, direct sunlight, mold and other negative factors.

When caring for a rare sideboard, it is important to remember that any abrasive products can damage its surface. When wiping off dust, it is not recommended to use hard sponges, cleaning agents and other methods of aggressive action. It is best to use non-woven wipes or cellulose-based rags.

An important factor for maintaining the proper condition of the buffet is the nature of its operation. Do not overload it, put hot, sharp objects on its surface that can damage the coating. It is important to remember that the interchangeability of the parts that make up the design of such a cabinet is limited due to the age of its production . Breakage or damage to any of them may entail the need for additional repairs.

Beautiful examples

This photo shows the sideboard, restored in Provence style using decoupage. The combination of two non-standard colors (lilac and pale green) creates the effect of ease of perception. This color scheme has a positive effect on the mood of the beholder and evokes a positive emotional response. At the same time, the main stylistic orientation has been preserved, allowing you to feel the effect of antiquity. The tabletop has been replaced by an identical one made of modern materials and painted in the appropriate style.

Showcased here is the buffet, restored to preserve the hue of natural wood. This solution makes it possible to bring its visual design closer to the original and helps the observer to feel the presence of antiquity. A similar effect is achieved thanks to a tinted paintwork and darkening of the protruding parts.